diff --git a/other/java/client/src/main/java/seaweedfs/client/SeaweedUtil.java b/other/java/client/src/main/java/seaweedfs/client/SeaweedUtil.java
index 6e1905370..66ea9a98d 100644
--- a/other/java/client/src/main/java/seaweedfs/client/SeaweedUtil.java
+++ b/other/java/client/src/main/java/seaweedfs/client/SeaweedUtil.java
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ public class SeaweedUtil {
     }
 
     public static String[] toDirAndName(String fullpath) {
+        if (fullpath == null) {
+            return new String[]{"/", ""};
+        }
         if (fullpath.endsWith("/")) {
             fullpath = fullpath.substring(0, fullpath.length() - 1);
         }